Hyundai Palisade Seat Belt May Not Latch
Hyundai has announced a safety defect affecting seat belt buckles in certain 2020–2025 Hyundai Palisade SUVs. The issue includes the driver, front passenger, and second-row window seats, where the seat belt buckle may fail to latch securely.
This recall follows a detailed investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Hyundai Motor America, raising concerns about passenger safety if the problem is left unaddressed.
What’s the Problem With the Palisade Seat Belt Buckles?
The affected Palisade vehicles are equipped with seat belt buckle assemblies that may contain out-of-specification latch components manufactured by supplier ZF Lifetec. These components can create interference inside the buckle’s latch channel, leading to increased friction—especially in cold temperatures.
When combined with slow insertion of the seat belt tongue plate, this defect may cause the buckle to fail to latch completely. If a seat belt cannot be fastened, the risk of injury during a crash increases significantly.
Timeline of the Investigation
- August 2024: NHTSA opened an investigation into complaints from Hyundai Palisade owners.
- 2024–2025: Hyundai worked with NHTSA and supplier ZF Lifetec to review defective parts and perform testing.
- April 2025: Hyundai extended warranty coverage for Palisade seat belt buckles to 15 years / 150,000 miles.
- Summer 2025: Engineers confirmed the cause of the defect—latch guides produced outside of manufacturing guidelines.
- September 4, 2025: Hyundai’s North America Safety Decision Authority approved a safety recall for potentially affected U.S. market vehicles.
To date, 546 reports of degraded latch performance have been recorded. Thankfully, no crashes, injuries, or fatalities have been linked to this defect.
Warning Signs for Drivers and Passengers
If your Hyundai Palisade is affected, you may notice the following:
- A lighter-than-normal “click” when fastening the seat belt.
- A recessed push button on the buckle housing.
- Standard visual and auditory seat belt warnings in the vehicle if the buckle becomes unlatched.
Until repairs are completed, Hyundai advises drivers and passengers to insert the belt firmly and quickly into the buckle and pull on the belt to confirm it is fully latched.
Hyundai Palisade Recall Remedy
Hyundai will notify affected vehicle owners by November 10, 2025. Dealers will inspect and replace the defective seat belt buckle assemblies. Hyundai's number for this recall is 283 and the NHTSA campaign number is 25V-607.